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Peach variety

Babcock

The short answer

Babcock requires 250–300 chill hours[1] and grows in USDA zones 8–10[2]. It is self-fertile[1].

Growing facts

Babcock growing facts
Chill requirement250–300 chill hours[1] (nursery figure)
HardinessUSDA zones 8–10[2] (nursery figure)
PollinationSelf-fertile[1]
Harvest windowJuly[1]
Years to bearing3 years (typical for peaches)[3]
USDA pomological watercolor of Babcock peach
Prunus persica: BabcockUSDA pomological watercolor, Royal Charles Steadman, 1933 · USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Plate provenance[4]

Notes

  • Low-chill (250-300 hr) white-fleshed freestone ripening mid-July; long-popular home variety in mild-winter California.[1]
  • White flesh; self-fruitful.[1]

A year with your Babcock

When the work happens for a peach in USDA zone 9, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Peach in zone 9
TaskJFMAMJJASOND
Prune——————————
Thin——————————
Spray timing————————
Harvest————————

See the full month-by-month peach calendar for zone 9 →

Can I grow Babcock where I live?

Check the verdict for a few regions, or your exact ZIP:

Growing a Babcock? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, starting with this month’s tasks for one tree, free.

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Questions

How many chill hours does Babcock need?
Babcock needs 250–300 chill hours.
What hardiness zones suit Babcock?
Babcock grows in USDA zones 8–10.
Is Babcock self-pollinating?
Babcock is self-fertile, though a pollination partner can improve cropping.

Sources

  1. [1] Dave Wilson Nursery. Peaches — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] Dave Wilson Nursery. Babcock — variety specifications — accessed October 2026
  3. [3] University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Growing Fruit Trees in Maine — Lack of Fruitfulness — accessed July 2026
  4. [4] USDA National Agricultural Library. USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection (Rare and Special Collections, 1886-1942) — accessed July 2026